Higgins fumes at training travel ban

DUAL ace Keith Higgins has hit out at the GAA’s ban on Mayo footballers’ proposed training trip to Portugal.

Team boss John O’Mahony and his players were due to fly out to the Algarve on Sunday, and get in six days of training before returning home tomorrow week.

But following a letter from Croke Park to all counties regarding the rules applying to such training trips, Mayo have decided to stay at home to prepare for their Connacht Championship joust with Sligo on June 5, at Markievicz Park.

The GAA pointed out that the rules clearly state that inter-county panels are not permitted to go on training weekends, or have training stints of longer duration, after their respective league finals.

But that cut no ice with football defender Higgins.

“We only heard the news yesterday and we are very disappointed, to put it mildly,” he fumed.

“Lots of other counties have been abroad on training trips this year, so there doesn’t appear to be an equal playing field.

“I’ve been away on such training trips two or three times before, and I’ve found them very beneficial.

“When you’re away like that, you can go into things in much finer detail, and hold regular meetings and have discussions between the team management and the players.

“Obviously you’re together all the time, unlike the situation at home where you’re only meeting a few times a week.”

Meanwhile, Higgins has given Mayo hurlers a massive boost by declaring his fitness for tomorrow’s Christy Ring Cup showdown with Wicklow, at Arklow.

The Ballyhaunis club man damaged ligaments in his knee during the NFL clash with Monaghan, on March 29, and missed the final-round tie with Cork, and the league final against the Rebels.

But he resumed full training a week ago, and underlined his fitness by lining out for his club in a domestic league fixture against Kilcommon at the weekend.

“I’m feeling fine again, and it was good to get a full match under my belt,” remarked Higgins.

“So I’m really looking forward to the game against Wicklow.”

Initially, when he hurt his knee, Higgins was unsure how significant the damage was.

“I was a bit anxious for a few days, but then I had an MRI scan, and thankfully that showed that there was just minor damage to my knee,” he pointed out.

“With the combination of some physio treatment and rest, I was able to resume light training about two weeks ago, before starting the full work about a week ago.”